Word for the Week

Worry into Prayer

2012-02-24T17:27:00.000-08:00

Worry is defined as to give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. Being troubled is a natural human instinct that is sometimes based on love. In 1 Peter 3: 9 we read "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Based on this scripture one might assume if the Lord was to have worries like humans do it would probably be that all would come to repentance. He loves us so unconditionally that his heart longs for his children to come home as we would our own. The bible gives instructions for our worry in the book of Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Paul knew worries would come and his advise here is to turn our worries into prayers. Here you can find God's peace which is must different than the peace the world has to offer. Turning our worries into prayers does not necessarily remove the situation but the peace of God equips us with the power to deal with the situation. Another answer can be found in Colossians 3:2 "Keep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth." Doing this allows us to focus on the eternal and not on the temporary. Our struggles will continue as long as we are on this earth but thank God all of these things were nailed to the cross with Jesus and we have the blessed hope to look forward to. Each day as our worries grow we must remember to leave them at his feet. Jesus paid much to high a price for us to try and bear the cross, Why do you think he carried his own? We just simply couldn't.

Set Apart

2012-02-17T08:26:00.000-08:00

In Romans 1:1 we read that Paul called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God. As Christians we are all called out and set apart for the kingdom of God. Those who are called out willingly choose to accept the redemptive power of the cross and follow Jesus. In Galatians 5:24 we read "Those who belong to Jesus Christ have nailed their passons and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucifed them there." This does not mean we will never sin again, we will have the capacity to sin all of our days on this earth but we are free from the bondage of sin and can choose to no longer give in to those desires. We must submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit and be sensitive to what he is guiding us to do. Our grace comes moment by moment when we depend on Christ for our strenght to overcome. It is often ask how can I know if I have really nailed my sinful nature to the cross and am doing my best to serve him. Our answers are found in Galatians 5:19-22 "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law." The will of the Holy Spirit is in constant opposition to our sinful desires as you can see from the scriptures just read. It is easy to see which qualities we want to produce in our life. Comparing the fruit we are producing verses what the Spirit produces can provide us a pretty good evaluation of how much we are set apart. So how are you measuring up?

Bought with a Price

2012-02-11T05:53:00.000-08:00

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. What did Paul mean when he said our bodies belong to God? Many Christians believe our bodies belong to themselves which gives them the freedom to abuse them as they see fit. The passage clearly tells us this is not the truth. When we accept Christ Jesus the Holy Spirit came to dwell within us and our bodies become the living temple of God. The Spirit of God can only dwell in a body continuously cleansed by the blood of Jesus. The blood was shed at such a great cost, no price could be put on it. Our body was made by God and we must uphold his living standards. While there is freedom in Christ that freedom does not license us to pursue our own will. Everything we can do is not necessarily good to do. 1 Corinthians 6:12 You may say, " I am allowed to do anything," But I reply, "Not everything is good for you." And even though "I am allowed to do anything." I must not become a slave to anything. The argument Paul was confronting was from some Christians who believed that Christ had taken away all sin therefore they could do as they pleased. What foolishness, the cost of the cross was of such great magnitude yet we crucify Him again by rationalizing our sinful behavior. Our sins have been washed away but we cannot continue to do what we know is wrong. Some actions in and of themselves are not sinful but they are not appropriate and they begin to control us and lead us away from God. A general rule of thumb is if it hurts anyone including yourself you should flee from it. Thank God we have the promise of a new body in the resurrection, a body like that of our Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 paints a picture of our new bodies. "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. We long for the day when we will be transformed to a body suited for eternal life. Our debt to Christ for what he had done is to great, Let us honor him with our earthly bodies.

Still Amazed?

2012-02-04T06:54:00.000-08:00

Are you still amazed? With the world at our fingertips through the web any information we seek or any question that needs an answer can be found with one simple search. The resources available to us through modern technology can at times almost desensitize us to to the miraculous. We get to the point where we cannot take things at face value, specifically the wondrous works of Jesus Christ. At times we need to go back and read the story of Jesus and the works he accomplished in his short life on earth. The world stood in awe of him in those days. Mark 1:27 "The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 2 Thess. 1:10 When the Lord Jesus comes . . . all the people who have believed will be amazed at Jesus.” Mark 9:15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. That begs the question today are we still overwhelmed with wonder and if he were to return today would we run and greet him? The glorious message of the cross and the sacrifice Jesus made should still fill out heart with joy and bring us to our knees for our crimes against him. At moments in our lives we simply must stop and just reflect on what was truly done for us and the future hope we have. God is still doing amazing things in our churches today. The message of the old rugged cross with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit can still bring the most hardened heart home to the place we were always meant to be. Take the opportunity this week to get alone with Jesus, read the stories of his works. The most amazing way to be amazed is simply to sit at his feet. Please check out the link below.

Amazed?

Empty Hands

2012-01-28T06:06:00.000-08:00

A constant theme in the old and new testament is sacrifice. From the moment man fell the plan was already is place for the redemption of mankind. A perfect sacrifice must be made to bridge the gap between the creator and the created. God's perfect moral nature demands the penalty for sin is death. Turning to the book of Psalms 50 verses 5-15 we read "Bring my faithful people to me- those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices. Then let heaven proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. O my people, listen as I speak. Here are my charges against you , O Israel: I am God, your God! I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly bring to my alter. But I want no more bulls from you barns; I want no more goats from you pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. Every bird of the mountains and all the animals of the field belong to me. If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. I don't need the bulls you sacrifice; I don't need the blood of goats. What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill you vows to the Most High. Trust me in times of trouble, and I will rescue you., and you will give me the glory." Our sacrifices are acceptable to God but only when we realize the significance behind them. Ritualistic worship will get you no where. The answer to the question of what does God want from us is answered many places in the Bible. One such place is in the book of Matthew Chapter 19: 16-22 as Jesus is speaking to the rich man. "Someone came to Jesus with this question: "Teacher, what good things must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why ask me what is good? Jesus replied. Only God is good, But to answer your question, you can receive eternal life if you keep the commandments. Which ones? the man asked. And Jesus replied: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not testify falsely, Honor your father and mother, Love your neighbor as yourself. I've obeyed all of these commandments, the young man replied, What else must I do? Jesus told him, If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you have and give money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, Then come, follow me. But when the young man heard this, he went sadly away because he had many possessions." Jesus was teaching we must be willing to give up anything to follow him, mankind must let nothing stand between us and God. Looking closely what do we really have to give? The truth is we have only empty hands to bring to Jesus. His sacrifice paid the ultimate price for our bondage. All we can do is come to him with a humble heart and offer ourselves by saying Christ Jesus here I am, I have nothing to bring but I accept the responsibility for my sin and believe the blood you shed bought me, paid the price so I may have right standing with God. It really is that simple. The response from Peter to the story was the same one we have today in verse 27 "Then Peter said to him, We've given up everything to follow you. What will we get out of it?" The tables turn again and our selfish nature wanting to know what is in it for me. Jesus answers in verse 29 "And every one who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will received an hundred times as much in return and have eternal life." We really can only bring ourselves to Christ and because he loves us so much we have eternal live to gain. It all begins with one simple prayer. Won't you bring him your offering today?

Hearing His Voice

2012-01-21T06:02:00.000-08:00

One of the most unique things about Christianity is it offers a personal relationship with the Creator. As Saviour who walks and talks with us through our life's. Living in the information age, our days are filled with a constant stream of communication. It can be difficult at times to put away the noise so we can hear what he wants to say to us. The question is often ask how do I know the voice of God. People often seek a mighty move of God through a church or have expectations of some powerful voice on high. The bible paints a different story in 1 Kings 19:11-12 "Go out and stand before me on the mountain, the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a might windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper". The Lord was found whispering in the gentleness of a humble heart. John 10:4 reads "After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice." Just as our children know our voices our God knows the cry of his own. God speaks to us about many things and he loves us so much the conversations are intimate and personal to the person alone. A testimony comes to mind from fellow believer that was told about hearing the voice of God. The story involves the passing of a dear loved one whom this person was very close to. In her words she was not sure if she would be able to carry on, she sought God and waited to hear from him. Several years after the passing a family member went into early labor and a child was born, the exact day of the week, hour and minute the loved one had passed away. The believer has found that was God's comfort to her, it was God's way of saying your loved one is with me but you have so much love to give this child is my gift and comfort to you. It is a beautiful picture of the sometimes subtle voice of God. It is no secret the key component in any conversation is not only hearing but listening. Psalms 46:10 reminds us "He says, Be still, and know that I am God." Rest assured friend God still speaks to us today, we must find ourselves listening and longing to hear his voice. We encourage you to take some time this week and get away for a few precious moments with Jesus. You may be surprised at the wondrous things he has to tell you.

Joy

2012-01-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

Joy is defined as filled with happiness, pleasure, or satisfaction. You could venture to say that humans spend most of their energy in the pursuit of this one thing. Countless resources are used in the pursuit of money or things, all thinking that if I can just obtain this at last I will be satisfied. Little do people know they hold the secret probably right in their homes in the dusty bible that is hidden away. We read in the book of John Chapter 17 verse 13 in the words of Jesus "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy." Christ was saying this was the center of his message, the ultimate redemption of man and the joy we should have because a lasting sacrifice was about to be made as he laid down his life. We must live in intimate contact with Christ because he is the center of all joy. Proverbs 3:1-2 "My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commandments in your heart for they will give you a long and satisfying life." King Solomon who was given the gift of wisdom and had unimaginable wealth, the world at his fingertips, came to the conclusion "everything is meaningless" in Ecclesiastes 1: 14 he says "Everything under the sun is meaningless, like chasing the wind." God asks us all to rethink our purpose and direction from time to time. Are we chasing meaningless things seeking contentment? God wants us to live victorious and joyful lives and has provided much direction in his word for the ultimate joy which comes through peace with God. I encourage you this week to turn to the Lord for your true joy, start with the book of Philippians and you will see the joy of serving Him. We close with Philippians 4:4 reminding you friend to "Always be full of joy in the Lord, I say it again-rejoice!"

Passion for the House of God

2012-01-07T06:31:00.000-08:00

In the book of John Chapter 2 we read the story of Jesus driving the merchants out of the temple, he went as far as making a whip from some rope and chased them from his Father's house. Of all the times the story has been read I failed to see verse 17 which reads "Passion for God's house burns within me." Jesus could not stand what was happening in the the temple and was filled with righteous anger. What was happening was absolute disrespect for God. The passion Jesus had was overflowing and spilled out onto all of those who dared to "turn his Father's house into a marketplace." Fast forward two thousand years and begin to examine the modern church. Taking a closer look we see a flicker of passion on Sunday morning for the most part with members showing up but oh how those embers die down when it comes to attendance on Sunday night and heaven forbid we should ask someone to stop for a mid-week service or spend a day off working in and for the house of the Lord. You see the frustration from Pastors who from week to week pour their life and heart out into what God has called him to do but sometimes it seems to no avail. We have instructions on this subject from the Lord in the book of Hebrews 10:23-25 "Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near." We are by no means saying that you must hit the church each time the door swings open to get to heaven but this generation seems to have lost its passion for the house of God and does not understand the importance of being with other believers. We gather together to share our faith and to strengthen and encourage one another. There is no other place in the world you are going to find this. You congregate with others who have walked through many of the same issues that we all face. The church allows you to share the stories of overcoming and to glorify God for what he has done in each and every believers life. It is time to stop making excuses and get our priorities in line. Fellowship in the church is like food for the body, we need this to survive. As the new year begins may each of us examine our passion for the house of God. Ask the Lord to kindle the fire once again.

A New Beginning

2011-12-30T05:53:00.000-08:00

As 2011 draws to a close and the dawn of the new year approaches we often begin to reflect on the old year and begin making resolutions for the coming year. Did you know as a child of God you do not have to wait until a new year begins to restore your relationship with Jesus. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 says "As God's partners, we beg you to reject this marvelous message of God's great kindness. For God says, At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed, God is ready to help you right now, Today is the day of salvation." We are new creatures in Christ Jesus when we accept him as our Lord. It is not just changing habits or turning over a new leaf. 2 Corinthians 5:17 "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone, A new life has begun!" We are reformed and regenerated by the Spirit of God himself. Verse 21 of the same book says "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." Churches will often see a surge in attendance after the first of the year and people volunteering to serve in God's house. While these things are wonderful we must keep our motives pure. As a child of God we want to work for Jesus but works are no substitute for the cross. While they may make us feel better the only way to be restored is through the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no need to wait until 2012 to be restored to your maker, as the scripture says today is the day. Remember each day what Lamentations 3:22-23 says " The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruciton. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day." Our walk with Christ begins anew daily, not yearly.

Christmas

2011-12-24T07:20:00.000-08:00

This time of the year brings many emotions to people. Just say the word Christmas and a myriad of memories may flood your soul. For some this is the most joyous time of year and for some it may be one of the hardest times to get through. It could be the loss of a loved one or sickness and your mind races back to what once was. We know there are people around us who are hurting and if God is love and we are his vessels we must be equipped with his word to comfort those who need him. We must also ask God to open our eyes to those who need us. Turning to the word we find scriptures that help. In the book of John 16: 33 we read in the words of Jesus " I have told you all of this so that you may have peace in me, Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world". Psalms 30:5 "Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalms 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted, biding up their wounds." There are countless more promises in the word of good of our future hope but if it wasn't for this holiday season we would have no hope at all. Had the babe not been born that night man would forever be lost in its own sin. But we do have hope my friend for the Bible tells us in Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The angels announced the birth to the shepherds shouting in Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to whom God favors." What a beautiful story that began that night of the redemption of mankind. As we celebrate this holiday season let us be reminded that the baby Jesus was a gift for all of us and we can exchange no greater gift than to tell someone about the Christ child. There is a poem worth sharing with those who may have lost someone you loved this year. May it comfort you but most of all may you find comfort in the birth of your Lord. Merry Christmas!

My First Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless
Christmas trees
around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs
that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you,
the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description,
to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away,
We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones,
You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory
of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious
than pure gold.
was always most important
the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other,
my Father said to do.
I can't count the blessing or love
has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and
Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.

Child of God

2011-12-17T16:12:00.000-08:00

1 John 3:1 reads "See how much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are!" A successful adoption is one of the most beautiful things. A story once was told of a mother who adopted a beautiful baby girl from a distant land, as she watch the girl grow she began to weep one day as she was playing. The Father ask what was wrong and she said her tears were because she could not imagine someone willingly giving up something so precious. How could someone not love this gift from God. That is positive proof it doesn't take a blood bond for a person to be a mother or father. The same words could be said of the baby Jesus. 1 Corintihans 6:20 says "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."We have been adopted by the Father through the Son. We are children of the most high king! There is an old gospel song and the words go like this:

Once I was clothed in the rags of my sin,
Wretched and poor, lost and lonely within.
But with wondrous compassion, the King of all kings,
In pity and love, took me under His wings.

Oh, yes, oh yes, I'm a child of the King
His royal blood now flows in my veins.
And I who was wretched and poor now can sing
Praise God, praise God, I'm a child of the King.

Now I'm a child with a Heavenly home,
My Holy Father has made me His own.
And I'm cleansed by His blood, and I'm clothed in His love,
And some day I'll sing with the angels above.

Friend you were bought with a price and have an inheritance that you cannot imagine. Nothing you could every accomplish will make you worthy of what God wants to freely give. We will never be good enough, we can never work our way into the kingdom. It take one simple step and that is accepting the sacrifice that was given for you, the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross. You can feel him tugging on the strings of your heart saying "My child, my child I will never let you go. My love for you knows no end. You are a child of the king." Won't you unwrap the present God has given this holiday season? No greater gift has ever been known.

Meeting the Need

2011-12-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

In Mark 16:15 we read "And then he told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere." Often referred to as the great commission, the command was to go. This is the driving force that moves missionaries into the uttermost part of this world carrying the news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. You can have nothing but the highest respect for those who are called according to this purpose. In most cases these people have forsaken all to carry the good news. They could be much more comfortable living in this great nation, yet that choose to leave family, friends, and all they know because of the burden God has placed on their hearts. It must take great determination and faith to share the gospel abroad when most of us can't even share it with our neighbor. As Americans we cannot image what the eyes of missionaries have seen when it comes to the devastation poverty has taken over most of the world. Poverty was prevalent in the days of the apostles, reading in Galatians 2:10 "They only thing they suggested was that we remember to help the poor, and I have certainly been eager to do that." Caring for the poor is a constant theme in scripture yet we get so caught up in meeting our wants, yes wants, not necessarily our needs.When you are meeting someones basic needs of food and shelter there is no greater demonstration of the love of God. You become his hands and feet. When we say the word missionary it does not just refer to those "preaching". True missionaries are meeting the spiritual needs as well as the physical. Americans have been so blessed as a nation we have become oblivious to what is actually going on around us. During this season of giving take an opportunity to ask God to give you a burden for those who are less fortunate. Ask God to give you a burden for those who's circumstances dictate their future. Ask God to give you burden for missionaries around the world fulfilling the great commission. Psalms 41 1-2 says "Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor. The Lord rescues then in times of trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity and rescues them from their enemies." There is a great blessing to those who share the concerns of God.

Time at Hand

2011-12-03T06:24:00.000-08:00

A comment was made to me this week about the shortness of life and how this was not a rehearsal as far as the years we are given on this earth. The point they were making was that people need to take some time to enjoy life while they were physically able. While part of that statement was true I couldn't help but think they were wrong when they said this life was not a rehearsal. When you apply spiritual implications to it, yes this life is a rehearsal for what is to come and everything we do now has bearing on someone or something. James 4:13-14 tells us Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes". So much of our lives are devoted to the future we forget about living for the now. We long for the days ahead when "things will get better" My kids will be older, we will have more financial freedom, have a closer relationship with God, retiring from work. While there is nothing wrong with those things we cannot forget to live in the present, we are not promised tomorrow and God has given us this day for a reason. Proverbs 16:19 says "We can make our plans but the Lord determines our steps". How many situations do we get ourselves into when we decide to do both the planning and ordaining of our own paths? How much could we have accomplished for the kingdom of God had we just listened? Scripture tells us plainly in Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Proverbs 3:5-6 also tell us "Trust in the Lord with all you heart, do not depend on your own understanding. See his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths". These scriptures give us confidence that we do have a hope and a future as long as we walk in the will of God. It is not necessary to waste time worrying about what may or may not happen because his word says I have a "hope and a future" and his word never fails. The point is that we must stop dwelling on the future and take advantage of the day and the hour that is at hand. It is good to have our plans and dreams, and believe me God holds those things in the palm of his hand and they are precious to him also. Those dreams will be come a reality if we stay on the path he has laid before us. We must never loose site of the fact that everything we do today has heavenly implications tomorrow.

Excuses

2011-11-26T10:02:00.000-08:00

Making excuses for falling into temptation is second nature for Christians. Notice I said falling into temptation, not being tempted. Our evil nature will always look for a way of excusing what we have done ourselves. This inherent nature is so prevalent you can see it in small children, watch them as they will shift the blame to a sibling and even lie about situations. No one has to teach a child that, we were born in sin and no one is exempt. Looking to the book of James we read about temptation in Chapter 1:13-15 says "And remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, God is tempting me. God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either. Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death". All of us will face temptation but it is our response to it that leads to victory or death. Even Christ was tempted in the dessert by the devil yet never gave into it. This puts Christ in a greater position to help us come through our temptations because if Jesus overcame and he left his Holy Spirit here to give us power we are equipped with the heavenly connection that can only lead to victory. If we can overcome the evil, we see God is refining our faith and making us stronger and stronger. Think about your walk with God over the years. What once were issues for you now probably seem pretty insignificant. You are no longer tempted in those areas because you have overcome and the devil knows more than likely he cannot make you fall on those things again. When we mature in Christ we can recognize our area of weakness and avoid those situations. 1 Corinthinas 10:13 says "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." They key is recongnizing sitatuions, running from them, choosing what it right, and praying for God to help you. These few steps can lead you to victory every time.

Thankfulness

2011-11-19T05:31:00.000-08:00

It is only appropriate this week we focus on being thankful. Thankfulness should be an integral part of our everyday life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus".The verse says "no matter what" be thankful, not the easiest thing to do for most of us. Developing this kind of attitude takes the help of the Holy Spirit, often develops over time, and shows the signs of a mature believer in Christ. Keeping a grateful heart develops great faith and character and puts this earthly life in perspective. We begin to realize that like the good book tells us this life is "as a vapor" and this journey is only the beginning not the end. Thankfulness often equals endurance when we face a battle that is out of our hands. Psalms 92: 1-2 reads "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim you unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening". In this all about me society it is so easy to take the small things for granted and loose sight of what we really should be grateful for. We become more positive, gracious, and humble as we develop an attitude of thankfulness. Thanksgiving must become a daily part of our life, it should not take a holiday for us to take the time and focus on what truly matters. Take a moment each day and thank God for the great things he has done. I have found one of the greatest ways of learning to be thankful is giving back in some way, when you can become a part of compassionate ministries you become his hands and feet and "me" seems to fade away in the light of God's love. Let him use you this holiday season and be grateful for it.

Persistence

2011-11-11T16:59:00.000-08:00

The Bible constantly reminds us that we must have a purpose and a plan because times will be difficult and the enemy will attack. In Matthew 7:7-8 we read " Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives, everyone who seeks finds, And the door is opened to everyone that knocks". Jesus was teaching consistency in our pursuit of God. We cannot give up if the answer does not come right when we thing he should answer. Luke 11:9-20 "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who ask, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is open to everyone that knocks". Persistence in prayer is designed not to change the will and mind of God but is of benefit to us. It teaches us the true intensity of the need at hand and causes a greater dependence. You will never be closer to God than when you are going through a valley. It is during this time that we grow as Christians and find ourselves falling in love with God all over again. This also allows God to step in and meet our needs according to his riches and he will be given all the glory. There was nothing we could have done to solve the issue, we know that our prayers were heard and that makes our relationship stronger. Once you have gone through something and it comes back around again the mountain suddenly doesn't look so big this time. If God did it once he can and will do it again. The most beautiful thing about the Christian walk is that we move forward with persistence with a reward insight. Philippians 3:12-14 " I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward the day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus save me and wants me to be. No, dear brother and sisters, I am still not all that I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead of me. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven". Persecution pushes us to persistent prayer. Be prayerful, powerful, be diligent. God heard your cry the first time child and when you need him the most you will find he was the one carrying you the whole time. This week we close with the beautiful poem Footprints by Mary Stevenson.

One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

Guilt

2011-11-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

One of the most common things that Christians struggle with is guilt. These feelings can stem from the stains of the past which the devil uses as a tool to discourage new believers or another way guilt works against the redemptive power of Christ is when you have days where you just do not feel like that you measured up to what Christ has called you to do or be. When you loose that inner peace about something maybe you have said and done. The irony is that generally when you have those feelings it is a sign you are sealed by the blood and what you are feeling is the work of the Holy Spirit convicting and pushing you on to a closer walk with God. The truth is we will never measure up to a perfect God. The bible tells us all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In Romans 5:7-8 we read "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord." We must let go of our guilt and believe God has washed away our sin. What was done of the cross was all sufficient and no sins remain. It it our week faith and our memory that haunts us, those feeling are self and not of God. We read the first part of Romans 3:24 which was quoted earlier but take a moment to read the rest of the story through verse 25 "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty, He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us, We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us". Deliverance, and freedom is found in Jesus alone. Don't let the devil steal your joy and peace that is your pardon. Romans 8:1 reminds us " There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". The reality friend is we will never measure up but the word tells me in 1 John 1:9 this " But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong". It did not say some wrong it said every wrong, if you have accepted Christ as your savior your hope is secure. The guilty stains have been removed. Live free in Him today!

Criticism

2011-10-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

One of the signs you are growing in Christ and becoming a more mature christian is the ability to take constructive criticism. The word alone stirs up feelings of offense and resentment for criticism that is done for the wrong reasons. We must be careful in our rebuke of others. Luke 17:3-4 reads "I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and ask forgiveness, forgive him". To rebuke does not mean to point out every sin but to bring sin to the persons attention in order for them to return to God and others. It must be done with a clean heart and right spirit. We read in the book of Job after all he had been through how his friends words hurt. Job 6:25 says "Honest words are painful, but what do your criticisms amount to?" Be careful you find the fine line between honest words and hurtful things when addressing situations, there is always a balance in ministry. This is why the best person to minister to certain situations is someone who has walked through the fire themselves, because " they do know". In Galatians 5:15 we are warned to "Beware of destroying one another". Constructive criticism is always motivated by love. A critical spirit creeps in when we stop looking for the good in others and only see their faults. We must learn to choose our words wisely, never assume we know what someone is going through or how they feel. Focus on the other persons strength at the same time teaching them in love in order that they may grow. There are positive qualities in everyone and everything, be open to seeing them. The party receiving the rebuke or correcting has a responsibility also. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 reads "For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death. Just see what the godly sorrow produce in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could do to make things right". Constructive criticism done this way produces changed behavior. We must be able to accept correction as a tool for our growth.

Doubt

2011-10-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you are well aware that our walk with God is one of faith. Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of the things we cannot yet see." When all is well with the world we stand strongly on that confident reassurance but let a few trials come our way and we are quick to let doubt settle in. Even the disciples struggled with this and they witnessed the miracles of the Messiah himself. Reading in Matthew 16 we find the group on a journey when they realized that they had forgotten to bring any food. Verse 8-10 "Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said, You have so little faith! Why are you worried about having no food? Won't you ever understand? Don't you remember the first five thousand I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of food what were left over? Don't you remember the four thousand I fed with seven loaves, with baskets of food left over?"Jesus was teaching on how a small amount of evil can influence the whole bunch, the story wasn't about food. The disciples were focused on the natural and their needs and had soon forgotten the works that had already seen, they couldn't see past themselves to grasp the spiritual truth Christ was teaching. In Matthew 17 we read of Jesus healing the demon possessed boy. The disciples could not heal him so Jesus instructed them to bring the child to him and performed he miracle. When questioning why they could not do it he replied in verse 20 "You didn't have enough faith." After all they had witnessed and done yet they doubted the authority Jesus had given them. It is the power of God plus our faith that moves mountains. There is great power in a little faith when trust God to act. Has your faith began to waiver? Have you soon forgotten what God has brought you through and the promises already fulfilled in your life? The Bible is full of the promises of the true and faithful God. If you are struggling with doubt open his word and begin to read. You can start with 2 Peter 1:3-4 which reads "As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by the same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and you will share in his divine nature." Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Isiah 40 29-31 He gives up power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. they will walk and not faint. Be encouraged this week, think back on the goodness of God and all of the the promises already fulfilled in your life, never forget his great works. Do not let doubt settle in, the Lord is not slack concerning his promises. Draw strength from the good times to sustain in the bad. The best is yet to come

Mercy

2011-10-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

In the book of Luke chapter 15 verses 11-31 we read the parable of Jesus concerning the lost son. The story begins with the greed and lust of a young son who takes his portion of the inheritance, packs his bags, and sets out on his own. The journey quickly becomes nothing like the young man envisioned. Verse 13 tells us he packed his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there "he wasted all his money on wild living". The son soon found himself broke and persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed the swine. Soon a great famine swept over the land so strong that the lad found himself eating what the pigs had touched and left. This must have been the most humiliating thing for a Jewish man because of the Mosaic law of uncleanliness. This was degrading beyond belief. Verse 17 it says "He finally came to his senses" and decided that even the hired help at home lived better than he was and returned home in hopes the father would make him a servant. The most beautiful part of the story begins in 20 "So he returned home to his father. And when he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him." Doesn't this paint a wonderful scene in your mind of our lives when we return to God? How many times have we wasted everything on wild living and then returned to our senses. Our father who is just like the one in parable waits, watching from afar and as soon as we begin that first step towards him he begins to run towards us. Flooding our lives with undeserved mercy. In the words of Paul in Galatians 1:15 "But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me even before he was born! What undeserved mercy!". The word tells us his mercy renews every day. If you are in a place where you think you have gone to far I encourage you to read the story of the lost son. The story is almost a love song to us, God's children, as he patiently waits for us to find that path to Him that we have always been destined to. The only thing that stands between us and God is ourselves. We can not fathom the depth of love the father has for his children. Be assured today he is looking over the horizon just waiting for you. Come home running child of God!

The Master's Hand

2011-10-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

In the book of Luke we see a simple passage and at first glance you might read and move on but the profoundness of the statement reaches much deeper. Luke 4:40 "As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. Not matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. The people being brought to Jesus were coming to him for physical healing but they were in need of so much more. They were in much need of spiritual healing and reconciliation to God. Little did they know they know that day they had had seen and touched the hands of God. We see the same in Matthew 15:29-30 "Jesus returned to the sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. A vast crowd brought him the blind, crippled, mute, and many others with physical difficulties and they laid them before Jesus. And he healed them all." The masters hand can still heal all today. We can bring those to Jesus who need his touch through prayer and explaining the hope we have to them then Christ can do the work. Our narrow minds comprehends physical healing because it is tangible but when the hand of Jesus touches you you are made complete and whole spiritually. One touch and one drop of the shed blood is sufficient for all our needs. Acceptance of Christ creates a newness and restores us to the place God always meant us to be, whole before him. We doubt often because those physically attributes are still there and maybe even the physical sickness remains. Our healing is sometimes on the inside verses the outside. Just because a prayer is said and you don't walk away immediately restored remember you cannot see what is happening in the realms unknown. The premise of Christianity is a faith walk, we must trust the same God that healed yesterday can do the same today. Both passages of scripture told you that ALL were healed. Just reach out and touch his hand. We close today with a beautiful poem by Myra Welch:

Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who’ll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar," then, two! Only two?
"Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three . . . "But no,
From the room, far back, a grey haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master’s hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.

A "mess of potage," a glass of wine;
A game, and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
He’s "going" and almost "gone."

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
--

Legacy

2011-10-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

Legacy is defined as a gift of will or personal property handed down from ancestor to predecessor. I Timothy 6:7 reads "After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into this world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die." We may not take anything with us but if you have spent any time on this earth you certainly will leave behind something. You leave behind your legacy. When a loved departs this live and the time of memorial is at hand the family takes time to look back on this brief vapor of life. Often the legacy you leave can been seen physically sitting in the pews. What starts out with two young people in love over time turns into generation after generation of dear family. That is a legacy in and of itself. The second legacy and what we should concern our self with is the type of treasure we have laid up for ourselves when we stand before our Savior. Matthew 6:19-21 says "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and rust, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty, and where they will be safe from thieves. Where ever you treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be." Christ was teaching in this passage about money or the love of it. The pursuit of material things, selfish desires, interests, and goals can cloud our vision. Jesus was not teaching having things were sinful but when the motive behind our living changes to what we can do for our self and store up that is when we are headed down a path of destruction. Christ taught and demonstrated on the cross that this life is one of selfless giving. Putting the needs of our brothers and sisters before our very own. It takes a strong person to crucify the flesh and do that, our Adam sinful nature screams just the opposite.

How do we want to be remembered after our years are over? If our God is love then the greatest legacy we could leave was that we patterned after this love. A life of putting others first and me last. A giver of material and of self. A life of kindness and purity. Not out of the need to do "works" or be "liked" but pure intentions. Living this type of life will be the only things that stand the test of time. All of the worldly things we posses will soon fade but our kingdom works stands forever. May the life of Jesus Christ inspire you to live daily for him. I love the words of the song that says "One day Jesus will call my name, as days go by I hope I don't stay the same. I want to get so close to Him that it's no big change on the day that Jesus calls my name." Be blessed friends!

Servant Leadership

2011-09-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

Servant leadership is defined as a leader who is a servant first, who contributes to the well being of people and community. A servant leader looks to the needs of people and ask himself how he can help to solve problems and promote personal development. He places his main focus on people, because only motivated people are able to reach their targets. Wikipedia defines this content and gives credit to this "novel concept" to Robert Greenleaf. If you examine the philosophy further you will see it dates back much further to the ministry of Jesus Christ. In the book of Mark 10: 42-45 we read "So Jesus called them together and said, You know that in this world of kings and tyrants, and officials lord it over people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave to all. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life for a ransom for many." True greatness come from serving others. Just having the desire to become a leader can often become a hindrance because desire often promotes pride and self fulfilling acts to rise to the top. We must look for ways we can meet others needs. Luke 22:26 says "But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant." The worlds perspective takes a different view from this philosophy. We read the words of the disciple John in the book of John 3:30 "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." What true humility! As Christian leaders we must always be reminded to keep the focus off of our personal successes in ministry, work, or our personal lives. It is only through the grace of God we are able to accomplish anything. Servant leadership demonstrates the very nature of the God. Showing love above all things by meeting the needs of others needs even if it means sacrificing our very own. The truest demonstration of this was the life of Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice on the cross. As we lead may we always look to his example.

Hunger Awareness Month

2011-09-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

September begins hunger awareness month in Oklahoma. According to the USDA Oklahoma ranks eight in the nation in the number of people per capita who are hungry. One in five children lives in poverty and are at risk of going to bed hungry. Of households experiencing hunger, less than 20 percent are classified as unemployed. More than one-third are disabled and/or retired while the remaining 46 percent have at least one working household member. The numbers are staggering, we are talking about our own back yard, America, the land of plenty. These are our family and neighbors and as Christians we are called to take action. Looking to the book of John in chapter 21 verses 15-19 we read when Jesus challenged Peter "Do you love me more than these? Then feed my lambs." Peter had denied Jesus three time and three times Jesus ask Peter if he loved him. Christ was removing the cloud of denial that Peter held on to. It is one thing to say you love him but how far are you willing to go to serve him? Turning to the book of Matthew we read of the days of final judgement. In Chapter 25 Jesus turns to the righteous beginning in verse 34 " Then the King will say to those on the right, Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. Then the righteous will reply, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will tell them, I assure you when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it unto me. The truth is our actions reflect our true beliefs, the real evidence is in the way we act.

As summer fades and a new season begins let us be reminded of our friends and neighbors in need. Winter months begin a harsh season for those who are food insecure. Families can harvest their own crops in the warm growing season but the harvest may not be enough to sustain. Friends we must be the arms of Christ to our local communities. These are our brothers and sisters and we are called to action and I urge you to get involved. Donate monetarily what you can, donate food items. Volunteer at a local food pantry. Everyone has something they can share. One of the most powerful things you can do is pray, pray for God to supply the need to food banks and pantries, and pray for workers. Ask God to open your eyes to your surroundings and to those who have a need. I would be willing to bet they are closer than you think.

May God richly bless you this week friends!

Never Forget

2011-09-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

Has it really been ten years since the tragedy that forever changed the face of America? Like most Americans we can remember the very place we were when we heard the news of the day, we watched in terror as the events unfolded before our very eyes. Could this really be happening on our own soil? If you have never been to New York City and even though we have seen many images of the towers it is almost impossible to fathom both crumbling down on the innocent people inside and below. Let us not forget the Pentagon either which sometimes fades to the background in comparison to the twin towers. Many lives were lost that day in a place symbolic of the power of the United States military. And then we have the heroes who went down in that Pennsylvania field A handful of brave individuals who courageous acts saved countless more lives that day. What tremendous people of God they must have been to stand up and fight for what was right with no regard to themselves. In the book of James 1:3-4 we read " For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." The Lord must have prepared these men and women for this moment all the days of their lives. You never will know the depth of your character until you have to choose others over yourself.

So ten years later what is our duty as Christians and Americans? The answer is found in Chronicles 7:14 which says "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land." We must pray. We must pray for those who grieve and the countless families forever changed for generations. We must pray for those who survived but are reliving the events of that day in their minds. We must pray for our soldiers who at this very hour are putting their lives on the line to prevent another tragedy like this from every happening in this great land again. We must pray for our leaders for wisdom and guidance. We must pray for our Nation.

Nothing will change what happened that day but we have the power to change the future. America must hold on to the promise of Christ found in Revelation 7:17 "For the Lamb of who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears." May we never forget and may God bless America!

Scripture

2011-09-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

Scripture is our standard for testing everything to be true and right. Because the scripture is the infallible Word of God it must be or source of guidance for every step we take in our earthly walk. We see the purpose of scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what it true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do."
Scripture equals preparation. We would never step into an important presentation or task at work without preparing our self first, how foolish would that be? Yet everyday we go out to face battles without equipping ourselves with the tools necessary to get the job done. After Christ's resurrection he appeared to his followers in Luke 24:25-27 saying " You are such foolish people! You find it hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer these things before entering his time of glory?" It was such a shock as the events of the death of Jesus death unfolded but the prophets had shouted the message since the fall of man. We are taken aback when storms come into our lives and only then do we turn to the Word for answers. The waves would not toss us about so much had we prepared for the storm. Hebrews 4:12 says " For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. In Psalms 119:105 David tells us "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." In order to walk safely we must have a clear path. As a new day begins tomorrow let the scripture illuminate your path. Scripture is living, life changing, and dynamic!

Trouble

2011-08-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

Most of us have been in situations when we are experiencing great pain, illness, or persecution. The Bible tells us trouble and trials will come. The carnal mind would want to reason why we are going through these things and will take any human step possible to alleviate them. It's horrible to watch others suffering and because we were created by the God of Love our instinct is to want to take away that suffering. Often there just are not words to explain situations we face in times of tragedy. What we have to realize that all these things just point to the fact this brief time on earth is not all there is. Our lives are as a vapor but the promised hope is an eternity free of suffering in the arms of Christ. This blessed hope brings comfort. In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 we read " For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever. So we don's look at the troubles we see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not seen. For our troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever." God will provide us comfort to get through our troubles. Comfort does not necessarily mean removal of the trouble but comfort can come through strenght and encouragement by his Holy Spirit. In John 14:16 Jesus said " And I will ask my Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter), who will never leave you." If you are currently walking through a valley right now take comfort that the Spirit of God is with you, look to his word and other believers to find strenght and encouragement. Our trouble is only for a moment but our rest is eternal.

Counting the Cost

2011-08-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

In the book of Luke we read in the words of the King warning us the cost of a life following him. Luke 14:25-27 says "Great crowds were following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, If you want to be my followers you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters,-yes even more than you own life. Otherwise you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your cross and follow me." The crowds following him that day knew what physically carrying your cross meant, they had seen many public displays of the condemned carrying the cross to their final cruel destination. Carrying you own cross meant total submission to the weight of the Roman government to the point of crushing the one forced to move forward bearing the load. Jesus was teaching the followers to count the cost, knowing one day each follower will face the choice in life. Choosing life or death. The Bible asks us if Christ will find faith on earth when he returns. Making the choice to live for Christ we all will face consequences. Families will rise up against families, brother against brother. Walking in the faith we have to completely submit to the will of the Father. Basically choosing to lay down control, God gave us the free will to choose but we make a free choice to give back that freedom in submission to Jesus.The live of a Christan could cost us everything. But why shouldn't it cost us everything? It cost the Father all he had.

Unbeliever's

2011-08-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

Does anyone have an excuse for not believing in God? Turning to God's word in Romans 1:18-20 we find our answer. "For the truth about God is know to them instinctively. God has put his knowledge in their hearts. From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God has made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God." Every person will accept of deny God. We see all people know God internally but our sin and wickedness blinds us to the truth. It take the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal God's son and faith to accept his saving grace and mercy. Unbelievers need not be fooled. To deny the existence of God is to deny the very nature of God. You deny truth and love, the embodiment of the divine. Unbelievers often sight the evil in the world and how could a loving God allow such things. The truth is that man and sin brought the consequences of sin into the world. A holy God cannot look upon sin thus the need for our Saviour. There was no other way, it was the only thing that could take the veil of sin away from God and man once again. The word assures us that one day all will made right but the Lord does not want anyone to perish and he waits on the unbelievers to redeem the time. Walking as a Christian takes one thing, faith. You just have to accept the truth for what it is and not look at circumstances around. It's about following the heart, that deep down knowledge of God that the scriptures show us we have.

Temptation

2011-08-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

In the books of Matthew and Luke we read the story of the temptation of Jesus Christ. This time of testing proved that he was the son of God by withstanding temptation and because he was fully human we know we have the power to overcome also. Temptation is a funny thing, it is often a very subtle thought. While there is nothing wrong with the thought when it become action is where sin comes in. Being cautious of our thought life can help us overcome the mighty influence of the mind. While tempting Christ the devil focused on two things. 1. Physical needs and desires. 2. Possessions and Power. How prevalent is this in society today? In the age of bigger houses and luxury cars it is easy to give into a materialistic attitude that meets the desires of the flesh. And what man doesn't desire power? Its one of the foundations of sin, the devil craved the Power of God. The good news is we have hope when tempted. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we read " But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what other experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you cannot stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give into it." We have to stand on the word and his promise there is a way out. James 1:3-4 says" For when your faith is tested, you endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." When we stand in obedience to Christ and depend on his power to keep us from falling we come out on the other side stronger. What once held power over us no longer. Praise God we have a way out.

Cheering you on.

2011-07-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity this weekend to run in my first 5K. Even though I had been training and running the exact route for some time now I was amazed at how nervous I was at the start of the race. Maybe a better word to what I was feeling was anticipation. In the Bible our spiritual lives are compared to that of a race. It is amazing how everyone starts at the same point and in no time you have those ahead of the pack, those keeping ground and pace in the middle, and those who fall behind. Often those who begin strong are the ones you will find yourself passing as you close in on the finish line. While a race is a physical challenge that is about the individual our life's are about our self and also the impact we have on those around us. One way we can help each other is to encourage everyone that is running. In a physical race as you gain ground on the finish line you have those who have run their race standing on the sidelines cheering and clapping giving you that last wind of encouragement to push through. It is amazing how much time you shave off at the end, not because the end is in sight but because of those encouraging you. Christ is standing on the sidelines cheering for us, he was the first to finish the race so he surely knows what a struggle it can be. I Thessalonians Chapter 5 is a great chapter on encouragement. Verse 11 says "So encourage and build each other up, just as you are already doing." Verse 23-24 says " Now may the God of peace may you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until the day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God, who calls you is faithful; he will do this." The Christian life is to be lived not in our own strength but through God's power. Remind one another we can do all things who Christ who strenghthens us. Look around this week for someone who may be falling behind. Stop, encourage and run together. God wants to see all of us cross the finish line.

Back to the Well

2011-07-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Because God forgives our sins we cannot withhold forgiveness form those who have offended us. You often read of situations where a young life is taken away through a horrific act and the family speaks out publicly denouncing the crime but forgiving the individual. Allowing this type of forgiveness keeps us under Christ's law of love. Often this is the only way the victims family can find peace with God. I am reminded of the Samaritan woman at the well we read about in the fourth chapter of John. This woman was known to be living in sin and no respectable Jew would ever speak to such a person especially in public. What Jesus was able to do that day is something we should all strive to do. He looked passed her sin and all he could see was a beautiful child of God. It did not matter the sin, when she was offered "living water" and once she accepted it the spring of life washed all of the sin away. Consider your circumstances, are we harboring harsh feelings for or holding back forgivenes? If so we have to take a step back and remember who we really are. Sins are not ranked, a Holy God cannot look upon sin regardless of what "type" of sin we judge it to be. The only way he can look upon us now is through the veiled shed blood of Jesus. Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned, and fall short of God's standard". It is easy to sit in judgement when someones sin becomes public but how would we like it if our sins were broadcast? When a sin is made public the person may have to suffer the consequences on this earthly realm but through the love of Christ and the cross they are made right again. The truth is all sin lead to death and separate us from God but the glorious news is all can be forgiven. Romans 3:22 says "We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins". Take a moment this week and examine your life, Are you sitting in judgement of someone, withholding forgiveness? Perhaps we all need to go back to the well.

Righteous Exchange

2011-07-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

One of the things that sets Christianity apart from others is the righteous exchange that took place. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be an offering for our sins, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." The sins of this world were laid on Christ when he was crucified. So much so the Father had to turn away and could not look upon his son because he is a Holy God. When we speak of atonement this is what we are referring to. The shed blood as an atonement for our sin through this spotless sacrifice. The life application study bible says "But God offers to trade his righteousness for our sin-something of immeasurable worth for something completely worthless." Words could not ring truer if you look around at the godless world we are becoming. You often hear people say they cannot live up to God's standards or see those trying to work enough to obtain salvation. They miss the beautiful simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing we will ever do can redeem except for accepting the price that was paid upon the cross. After that you have to take things day by day. I love the words of Paul in Philippians 3:12-13 "I don't mean that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward the day when I will finally be all the Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all that I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead." What a changed life we would have by living the way Paul describes. Friend if you have exchanged yours sins at the cross I want to encourage you just to take things day by day, step by step, ever so slowly reaching for the prize that is set before us. Do not let the enemy throw the past at you, remember the words you have just read, forget the past and press forward. Begin each day marveling is his mercy and grace, the price has been paid.

Riches

2011-07-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Only time and history will tell but it has been said we are living in one of the worst economic situations the middle classs has ever faced. The seems to be no end to double digit unemployment, dismal job creation, and the ever rising cost of everything due to inflation. With so many struggling it is easy to fall into the mindset of if "I only had this amount of money I could pay this off or do this and then I would be content". According to scripture this is not the case. Turning to the book of 1 Timothy Chapter 6 Verses 6-10 we read "Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into this world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." We must learn to honor God and center our desires on him and his will for our lives. There is nothing is this world that will satisfy our fleshly cravings, no amount of money or things can fulfill that deep down longing and emptiness we have because our sins have separated us from God. Thank God through the cross and what Jesus did we can find peace, a peace and contentment that passes all understanding. The word says we should be content if we have food and clothing. The majority of Americans have this basic need met but the reason we struggle is because we have mortgaged ourselves into deep debt trying to fulfill a need that is greater than us. If there are those who do not have their basic needs met that is where the role of each one of us as Christians and the church must step in. Demonstrating the love of Christ by meeting our brothers basic needs, that is true love. We must clarify also that there is nothing wrong with having money, it is the love of money that "pierces themselves with many sorrows". If you love something you will chase it, you will sacrifice all of you hopes and dreams and even possibly lay down you life for it. It is easy to see how that kind of love of money would lead to nothing but destruction. We must learn to be content with what we have, demonstrate the love of God by meeting others basic needs, and realize one day all earthly riches will pass away. Hold fast to his promises friend, one day your heavenly reward will outweigh any earthly riches or things our minds can fathom.

Church Obligation

2011-07-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

I think we can all agree on the mission of the church, Jesus clearly gave us our marching orders in Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." The great commision, we can all quote it and as a whole the church is fulfilling the calling. In the age of technology the possibiliites of accomplishing this to all nations has become a reality. The use of satelites broadcasting the message of Chirist through television reaches places no man could physically go to. While the advent of technoology has done wonders for the kingdom we do have to be cautious. In today's society we are seeing to much of a feel good gospel being broadcast. A gospel telling people a postitive atitude will make everthing alright and their problems will disapear. This my friend is not reality. The bible even tells us why people are drawn to this type of message in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear, They reject the truth and follow strange myths." I will go to church if you tell me what I want to hear. While the word is full of the promises of God we have an obligation to teach people they are only avaialble to those who have found salvation in the name of Christ Jesus and who's sins have been washed by the blood. In Romans 6 :23 we find "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Eteranal life is not something you can earn but a gift from the Father through the sacrafice of his son. That gift is priceless and there has to be consequences to those who will not accept the gift. The church clearly has a mission and everday we continue on until he returns. Please keep the church in your prayers and help us always be conscious of finding the balance of the truth. A house divided cannot stand. The church has an obligation to teach everyone the reality of a heaven and hell, an obligaiton to teach others that problems do not go away with positive thinking,and an obligation to teach others you can stand on the word but have to remember the word is Christ Jesus.

Giving Up

2011-06-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

One of the misunderstandings about living a life for Christ is that once you accept him as saviour everything will fix itself and you trials and tests will end. As a church we fail our new believers often by not educating them on the reality they will face once they get up from the alter. Often things will get worse much before they get better. The devil will throw all he can at a new convert in the chance they will throw in the towel and give up. Even the most seasoned christian will find themselves at some point in their lives wanting to give up. Since Christ became human and dwelt among us he himself faced this same challenge. As he prayed in the garden in agony he sought his father for another way, the test was to much, but he resigned to the will of the father no matter what the consequences. Following this example this is what we have to do and the bible gives us many scriptures to help us keep pushing forward. Galatians 6: 9-10 says "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. It is easy to give up when we see no tangible results but we have to trust God for the results even if you cannot see them in the present. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 says "Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in a way that you will win. All athletes practice self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step, I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." A good friend of mine who is an avid athlete and runner once told me the day he quits running is the day he dies. The same can be applied to our spiritual lives. The day we stop pressing forward is the day we die, spiritually. To run a race takes preparation and self-denial. Daily walking with God and staying constant in prayer produces stamina. In time of adversity I have one scripture I lean on when I fell the pressure to give up. Philippians 4: 6-7 "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he had done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Be encouraged friends he will never leave nor forsake you, may the peace of God reign in your life as we press toward the higher calling together. He never said it would be easy, he only promised it would be worth it.

Demonstration

2011-06-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

One of the most beautiful things in the Christian walk is the demonstration of love through gifts of service. Whether meeting a specific need or standing with a person through trials or even grief we hold one of the most effective tools of ministry through small simple acts. Looking in the book of John 13:35 we find in the words of Christ "Your love for one another will prove that you are my disciples." Loving others in this way will bring unbelievers into the faith because when we love like our Lord we love unconditionally. When the purpose shifts from us to the need the whole experience changes for all. Many times in pain or grief all we can do is "be there" and pray. Galatians 6:2 instructs us to "Share each others troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ." As long as we are on this earth will all have certain experiences, these experiences are not by coincidence. The Lord allows us to walk through things sometimes not only to teach us but arm us so that we may be able to minister to others. No one can help someone who has lost a family member better than someone who has experienced that hurt. The same can be for those bound by addictions. I am more likely to listen to someone who I know has overcome the same struggles I face. The list can go on and on. The point is sharing in each others troubles and problems puts our faith in action and the burden gets a little lighter for all. I encourage you to take some time this week and be a blessing to someone else, there is no greater way to grow the kingdom.

Seasons

2011-06-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

Just like the change of season we are going through now from the spring rains to the dry summer our spiritual lives go through seasons also. There are times when we all have to go through dry seasons. Let me give you an example of a dry season. Unanswered prayers, we all have them. I am speaking to prayers of desperation. Continuous prayers for an answer and yet as time goes on you see nothing moving in the physical. Desperate cries for God to hear and help you and yet the rains seem not to come and each day you get up and bring those petitions back to God. I am found myself at times thinking well the Lord must be tired of me bringing this same thing to him or maybe my request was not in line with his will. That type of thinking is wrong. Colossians 4: 2 says " Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and thankful heart." Persistence is an expression of our faith. Faith does not die when the answers do not come but should grow and create a greater sense of desperation and dependence on God. 1Thessalonians 5:17-18 encourages us to "Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." The verse is clear, no matter what. Until the answer comes we must be steadfast. Through these dry seasons our faith grows, we will devout more time with God, seek his will in all things, and become more sensitive to his Holy Spirit. In the bareness of the dessert we are being taught because he loves us so much. We should praise God during the dry times and in due season the rains will return again. Ephesians 4:20 says " Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us he is able to accomplish infinitely more that we could ever dare to ask or hope." Every cry and tear you have shed has is held in the masters hand and when the spring rains begin to fall God will open his hand and pour the rains down in your life again. Just hold on! Can't you hear the thunder in the distance?

Sacrafice

2011-06-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

In Matthew 9:13 we read in the words of Jesus " I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifice; for I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are good enough." Accepting Christ requires us to lay down everything, there is no room for pride. It is about putting everything at his feet. Even those who have been in faith for a long time must be careful of anything creeping in that becomes ritualistic and turns to hypocrisy. We see the same thing again in Hosea 6:6 " I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that is more important that burnt offerings. Often times we begin our walk with Christ laying our burdens down and taking our cross and following him but as God blesses us and we begin to give back whether through offerings or service we develop a sense of self worth. Christians must be very careful of thinking anything we are doing or have is because of our own endeavors. The only reason we even have something to offer as a sacrifice is because he has given it to us. God wants us to first love and obey him. Going to church, paying tithes, and taking communion are rightful and have its place but only if our reasons for doing them are not out of a feeling of obligation or for selfish reasons. As we begin this new week let us all examine our motives once more, pray for a humble heart and acknowledge him in all things. Christ is our source, may his grace be sufficient because there is nothing we can offer Him.

Still Here?

2011-05-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

I’m sure most of us were aware of the impending end of days that was to happen on May 21^st. Well here we are a week later and the world continues on. We have all had our fun with it and I have even joked with others sending emails asking if they were still here. It was comical to some degree because we knew what the word of the Lord says concerning the return of Christ. The Bible clearly teaches in Mark 13:32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when it will happen, stay alert and keep watch.” Jesus was teaching preparation not calculation. When you look at the situation it really is sad. So many people deceived by one person and some still following the man who has now changed his prediction to October. I can assure you of this, any day that man predicts Christ will return you can bet there is no need to worry that day. In the book of Matthew chapter 24 Jesus warns us that many false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miracles, signs, and wonders so as to deceive; if possible even God’s chosen ones. These warnings still hold true today. We must arm ourselves with the knowledge of the word because as the time approaches the Bible tells us if the Lord didn’t shorten the days even the very elect would be deceived. We are assured that his return will happen suddenly and there will be no time for second chances. I hope as Christians take advantage of this opportunity as so many are searching for answers to show them the truth. Yes we should be looking and longing for the day but we should also be redeeming the precious time we have left to share with others the saving knowledge of Christ.

Walk on Water

2011-05-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

In the book of Matthew Chapter 14:25-33 we find the story of Jesus walking on water. The word says "About three in the morning Jesus came to them walking on the water. When the disciples saw him they screamed in terror, thinking it was a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them at once, It's all right, he said. I am here! Don't be afraid. Then Peter called to him, Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water. All right come, Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on water towards Jesus. But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. Save me, Lord. he shouted. Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. You don't have much faith. Jesus said, Why did you doubt me? And when they climbed back into the boat the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. You really are the Son of God! they exclaimed. Such a simple short story but so relevant some two thousand years later. How many times do we find ourselves in the same situation. When our faith is built up and eyes on Jesus we know there is nothing that can stop us but the moment we begin to look at things in the natural and begin to examine circumstances, listen to people rather than God, then we find out faith faltering and we begin to sink. It is so easy to look at the waves all around us and I know personally at times I begin to reason what naturally will happen and loose site of the miraculous that can happen. It becomes easy to get down when you take your eyes off of the prize and forget who our faith and trust is in. We may not ever walk on water but we will all find ourselves in tough situations. If we focus on the waves of difficult circumstances around us without faith in Jesus to help, we to may despair and sink. To maintain your faith we must focus on Jesus power rather than leaning to our own understanding. One of the greatest lessons we can learn from this short passage is found in the desperate words of Peter, Jesus save me! Sometimes these are the only words we can utter. Peter's cries to Jesus were from the heart, Peter knew there was only once source to his saving grace. The Bible tells us INSTANTLY Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter. Have you found yourself in the midst of a storm, waves crashing all around, no hope or way out? Sometimes all we can do is use those same words, Jesus save me! Hold of to the hope of his instantaneous reaction to our deepest cries and friend you to may find yoruself walking on water again.

Gift's

2011-05-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

We all have God given abilities. Some may ask well I do not have any talent to speak of but the Bible tells us that God has given us all different gifts and abilities. Romans 12:6 says " God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well." That verse goes on to name some gifts and the writer encourages us that no matter what gift we have been given we are to do it well. When the word gifts comes to mind we thing of many things, we see these people with great vocal and musical ability and stand in awe of them. Possibly a little envious at times, it seems to come so natural to some people. Well that is because it does. God knows who will use what he has given them for his glory. I often think if I was blessed with musical ability how it could possibly lead to pride, thinking look at me and what I can do. I have to trust that the almighty creator knew that and so to save me from myself that is a gift I do not have. The natural mind takes the word gifts to mean these great things that people can do but there is so many more. Prayer, faith, love, endurance, giving, serving, and teaching seem like minor gifts but these can have a greater spiritual impact than the greatest leader in the world.

The word tells us there are many spiritual gifts but only one source. I Corinthians 12:4 " Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all." The church today needs our strenghts to balance our weaknesses. Who can embody all of the gifts we need to reach the world? I can only think of one man, Jesus Christ who is our example. If we embody the characteristics of Christ through our collective gifts in the church there is nothing we cannot accomplish. The scriptures go on to tell us we cannot run the race unless unified and used the body as an example, some of the seemingly insignificant parts of our bodies are the ones we cannot survive without. I hope you are aware of how much you are needed. Looking to I Timothy 5:25 we see that " In the same way, everyone knows how much good some people do, but there are others whose good deeds won't be know until later". I encourage you this week to continue to use what God has given you. You are having a greater impact than you can possibly imagine. Do not get discouraged, reading that scripture above we see that God is taking into account every deed you do with what he has given you and one day a great reward will be yours. We all need each other in this life . Let our individual gifts balance each other as we continue to press forward fulfilling his call.

Adversity

2011-05-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

Faith is the midst of adversity- easier said than done. It is human nature to wonder why God's people seem to suffer so much or have to deal with so many enduring trial's. We want to react when a loved one is going through something and "fix it" for them. We have to keep in mind that our present sufferings are for his glory. For God did not spare his own son who was bruised for our iniquity and so man will not be spared suffering either. When sin entered into God's perfect creation so did desolation, destruction, and suffering. The only thing we can do or say in these times is to remind ourselves of what the word says. In II Corinthians 4:17 we find "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." Notice the word momentary, it may seem to endure but we have to resign to God's time and not ours. In the present light of eternity even the Bible says our lives are but a vapor. Our faith has to sustain us when we get down and begin to ask why. It is about becoming all of what God wants us to be. Suffering produces faith. God is teaching us complete dependence on Him and at the same time showing us the personal strength we have through him. His will has to be accomplished. Think back on your life and the trials you have already been brought through, I bet at the time you did not think you could endure but here you stand, faith stronger than ever. I would be willing to bet at the time you completely surrendered to him and told the Lord "I cannot do this alone" that is when he came running. During these times I must think on how much he must love me that my suffering would fit us to become more like Christ. How he must love me so much that the God of all creation would want to teach me anything or see me grow in Him. I think of all his goodness and blessings and the trials simple fade into the background. His word says I have never seen the righteous forsaken and sometimes you have to just hold on to that. God is our very present help in time of need. Sometimes all he wants is for us to let go.

Creation

2011-04-29T16:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why God choose to create the world and man? How is creation an expression of His existence? The truth is God is love and love is best expressed towards something. So God created the world and man as an expression of his love. The Bible also teaches us we can know He exists because our existence is in Him. Romans 1:19 says "For the truth about God is know to them instinctively." God has chosen to reveal himself plainly to us. The Bible says if man will not praise Him the rocks and hills will cry out. We all have an inner sense of what and who God is and with our own free will we choose to accept or deny it. Just look at the complexity of the world or better yet the human body- you can see God in all of it. The vast universe and stars up in the heavens. A child's tender smile or I love you. I Corinthians 8: 6 tells us "But we know that there is only on God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life". We all know with the natural disasters all around us that creation is no longer perfect and often critics will ask why. The answer is simple my friend, when sin entered the world creation fell from its perfection. We can be assured though one day that all will be made whole again. Romans 8:18-21 says " Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. All death and decay. For we know all creation has been groaning as in the pain of childbirth right up to the present time. The chapter goes on to say how we long to be released from our present bodies and pain. How we can look forward to that freedom one day. I love verse 24 because it says For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. That longing deep down inside of us that tells us that we are not really home is reassurance we are a masterpiece of his creation. Take time this week to thank Him that we were created thorough and for his glory. Don't make the rocks cry out!

He is Risen

2011-04-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

What a glorious season that is upon us. Everything we hold true in the Christian faith hinges on what Jesus did for us. We get so consumed with eggs and chocolate bunnies rooted in pagan culture we often forget the real meaning and need to be reminded at times of the complex yet simplicity of the gospel and its saving grace.We all have seen movies and read the story of the Crucifixion but I do not think we can even fathom the horrific anguish and death that Jesus faced for us. We do know according to the book of Luke that Jesus agonized in the garden. So much so he ask God to take away this burden if it were possible but even so he would complete his will. Luke 22:44 says "He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony in his spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood." Now this was prior to the absolute torture he was about to endure. Christ was spat upon, struck, thorns dug deep into his brow, whipped until you could see nothing but tendons and muscle, nails forced into his hands and feet, and beaten to the point he was almost unrecognizable. You tell me if this wasn't the son of God, who would ever endure all of this for nothing if it wasn't the truth? We know from history that hanging on the cross you have to push yourself up with those nailed feet in order to breath and crucifixion ultimately leads to suffocation. I believe physically Christ died this way but when he finally gave his spirit up was when all of the weight of sin was upon him and his Father had to turn away because he could not look at him, at this point the heart of Christ was broken and stopped beating. In Luke 23:46 he says " Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands. And with those words he breathed his last breath." But my friend the story does not end there. Praise God that on that blessed day among all days as the women went to prepare the body at the tomb they found an old empty grave! Shouting in Luke 24:6 "He isn't here!, He has risen from the dead!" Jesus appears to his disciples in verse 38-40 of the same chapter and says the following "Why are you frightened? he asked. Why do you doubt who I am? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see it is really me." Friends that same Jesus still is asking us the same question some two thousand years later, Why do you doubt who I am? Look at my hands and my feet. Those nailed scarred hands are reaching out today to save you, all it simply takes is a small measure of faith believing he is the Christ that was risen from the dead, able to wash all of our sins away by his shed blood. With a simple prayer asking him into your life and heart you can be saved today. That same unfailing love he had on the cross still calls all of us today. Take time this season to reflect upon the real meaning of the season, share the story with all of those who will hear, HE IS RISEN!

Protection

2011-04-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

How many times is our daily lives do we suddenly avoid and accident? Find ourselves in a volatile situation and it suddenly turns peaceful? I think often times we take for granted God's protection and give credit to circumstances rather than divine intervention. God loves us so much He even sends his spiritual beings, angels, to protect us. Psalms 91:11 says " For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go." Even the devil himself believes in these beings, he quotes the Word of God regarding this text when he was tempting Jesus. After the temptation God sent these spiritual beings to minister to Jesus. In Hebrews 2:14 we read "But angels are only servants. They are spirits sent by God to care for those who will receive salvation". Angels have three purposes: 1. Serving believers and protecting the helpless. 2. Proclaiming God's message. 3. Executing God's judgement. How comforting to know that He loves us so much that under his authority he gives these beings charge over us. The book of Psalms is filled with songs to the Lord for his deliverance and victory. One of my favorites is 18:1-3 " I love you, Lord, you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies". The protection of the Lord is limitless. A rock that can not be moved, a fortress to hide from the enemy, a shield from harm, and the strength of salvation. If you are in need of protection you simply have to call upon one name, Jesus. The next time you find yourself in a safe place avoiding certain destruction, take a moment and really look around, you were probably not alone.

Work

2011-04-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

Work- we all have to do it, when Monday rolls around its time to hit the ground running while counting down the days until the weekend. Did you ever consider it is a privilege to get to work? It is also our Christian duty to work hard and we have instructions in the the Bible on how we are to work and treat those who work with us. Ephesians 6 5-9 says "Slaves obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we be slaves or free." Whether you are a boss or front line worker we can see applications of this scripture. If God has blessed you with a supervisory position the word tells us how to treat our employees. We should value our workers treating them with integrity and respect. A great preacher once said God will elevate you only to the level you elevate you employees. Can you imagine the work enviorment if everyone applied this? The scriptures also teach us everything we do has an eternal impact. 1 Corinthians 1:58 says "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." That is worth repeating, nothing we do is useless, even if you do not see immediate results. We can not become apathetic in our work because we don't necessarily see our efforts being rewarded. Applying these Godly principles only leads to success, even if you never necessarily see it on the job, it leads to success with the Christian life and the Father is the one we are living to please. Enjoy you weekend friend, Monday will be here before you know it.

Unique

2011-04-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

As a believer we must be prepared to answer questions about other faiths in comparison to Christianity. So what does set us apart from other religions? Our uniqueness lies in that fact that most religions require specific duties that must be performed to make a person acceptable to god. Christianity is unique in that no good deed that we do will make us right with God. No amount of human achievement of personal goodness will close the gap between God's moral perfection and our imperfect daily performance. Good deeds are important but they will not earn us eternal life. We are saved only by trusting in what God has done for us. Romans 3:22 says "We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done." What an amazing verse of scripture! If you have ever been apprehensive about you ability to lead someone to Christ this verse should help you. It is all you need to know to lead someone to salvation, it says it clearly, there is no other way. Ephesians 2:8-10 says "God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he has planned for us long ago." Clearly this teaches our salvation is gift to us from our creator, there is nothing we can do in this life to earn it. The uniqueness of this is that all the glory is to the Lord and Savior and none to man. Our faith is the cross keeps us humble and puts pride at bay. We are nothing without Him. I like what the translation in my Bible says, What is the appropriate response when we receive a gift? How much to I owe you or thank you? The response to any gift is gratitude, praise, and joy. The scriptures do call us a peculiar people, a chosen generation. So if you are called upon to answer what is different about Christianity I hope you will be able to respond. Have a great weekend my "unique" brothers and sisters!

Trials

2011-03-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

One of the misconceptions about being a Christian that those young in the faith often have is once they accept Christ as their salvation all of the trials will be over. This is often times the reason so many stray away when fiery trials come their way. The truth of the matter is that often what you have to endure will get worse before it gets better, and the attacks you may face will probably escalate. The devil will come at you with all he has. One of duties of the church and fellow believers is we have to prepare people for what the future may hold. Its not a doom and gloom gospel but we must face reality. One reason God gives us all trials is to be able to minister to others through our testimony of what he has brought us through. Knowing someone has walked in our shoes and come out victorious only gives us the strength to press on. Looking to God's word In the book of 1 Peter Chapter 1 Verse 7 we find the purpose of trials. "These trials are only to test your faith to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tired by fiery trials, it will bring much and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. All believers will face trials as our light shines in a dark world. We must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ. Trials stretch our faith, they cause us to reach out to the Lord in ways we may never have before. In our desperation we let nothing stand in our way of the miracle we need from Him. Remember this if you are going through the fire, your faith is being strenghtened and God is making you more useful for the kingdom. He never said it would be easy only that it would be worth it all. If you are in a battle right now, seek the Lord with all you might, have faith and trust in Him like you never have before. You will be victorous, your trial is for His glory!

Forgiveness

2011-03-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness, an easy word to say but hard thing to do. When you say the word forgiveness as pertaining to the gospel you see it alone is the cornerstone of our faith. Repentance of sin and trusting that the Savior will forgive you is the first step of salvation. Today I want to address a different type of forgiveness, being hurt and the need to forgive someone. If you have spent any time on this earth you have felt the pain of being hurt by someone. It is our sinful Adam nature that allows us to hurt others. The pain of being hurt seems further magnified when it is someone you trust or another christian brother or sister in the faith. Hurting people almost feel justified holding on to their pain because it happened in the church. Regardless of the circumstances the Bible teaches us we must forgive in order to find our forgiveness. Even if the other party does not accept responsibility, we must find a way to release it if we ever want to move forward in our walk with God. Psalms 103 Verse 12 speaks of how we are forgiven. "He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is to the west." East and west can never meet- What a portrait of God's forgiveness! Imagine for a moment though if God forgave the way we do. "I forgive you but I will not forget" That is not true forgiveness. I am not making light of any one's hurt and sometimes the wounds are so deep that it truly takes divine intervention to forget the situation and move on with your life. God wants you to take the first step, forgive, and then seek his face for healing in order to move forward. One of the most beautiful parts of being a part of the faith is you can seek the counsel of those around you. Chances are they have walked in your shoes at one point in their lives and probably have a powerful testimony of how they overcame. If you are hurting and in need or forgiving someone today the Lord is surely standing waiting for you to take the first step. As you do this you will find the sense of relief you soul has been longing for. Trust and hold on to His hand and I assure you the hurt will be become a thing of the past. May you weeks be blessed friends

Witness

2011-03-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

As a Christian at times I think we all doubt ourselves, we wonder if our witness is effective, are we doing all we can to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We forget that often times the most effective thing we can do is simply live our lives. Matthew 23:37-39 in the words of Jesus says " You must love the Lord God with all you heart, all your soul, and all you mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second equally important: Love you neighbor as yourself." These two summarize the Ten Commandments and the other Old Testament moral laws. By fulfilling these two commandments a person keeps all others. If we truly love God and our neighbor we will naturally keep the commandments. Rather than worrying about all we should not do, we should concentrate on all we can do to show our love for God and others. If you have ever had the privilege of leading someone to Christ I would be willing to bet it wasn't by quoting scripture and beating them over the head with the Bible. It was by the life you were leading right in front of them as you went about your daily walk. You love them unconditionally, never judge, and allowed the Holy Spirit to work through you. One of the most greatest things I have experienced in my Christian walk was something a friend once told me. They told me I just had to come to your church to see what it was all about. Its all you spoke about, there was something so different about you. They eventually came to the saving knowledge of Jesus. When you begin to doubt yourself remember this, you hold the power to change the world in you hand by living. Living a humble life, loving others, being loyal and faithful, putting others needs before your own., and being compassionate. Never forget your life is your witness and you are the greatest reflection of the Love of God. Have a blessed week!

Riches

2011-03-07T05:37:00.000-08:00

Skyrocketing gas prices, basic necessities and grocery prices continue to climb. It is no wonder so many families are struggling to get by today. During hard times like today it is only natural for us to think if I was rich it would solve all my problems. This is contrary to what we find in God's word. Turning to 1 Timothy 6: 6-10 we read " Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." The passages are teaching us that true religion with contentment is great wealth. Honoring God and focusing on him is our number one goal. I must admit in my struggles to climb the corporate ladder I often times fail to see the true blessings and contentment from where he has me now. Verse 7 reminds us we leave this earth with nothing we have acquired. Have you ever seen a Uhaul following a hearse? Verse 9 speaks about being trapped with harmful desires leading to destruction, look at the celebrities of today; on the outside looking in we see a perfect world but when the truth finally surfaces we seen men most miserable.

Greed is the root of evil not the money itself. Craving riches gets us caught up in an endless cycle. In order to break this we must 1. Realize all riches will pass away one day 2. Be content with what we have. 3. Love people more than money or things. 4. Share what we do have. We should take our prayer from the book of Proverbs concerning riches, Lord give us neither poverty or riches, give us enough to meet our needs. Then we will find true happiness and contentment.

Ritual's

2011-02-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

A ritual is any practice or pattern of behavior regularly performed in a set manner. We must be very careful in today's church that we do not become ritualistic. You all know what I am talking about, we must sing three songs, offering, preaching, and go home, only to come back next week and do it again. Over time this becomes ritualistic religion and was never the intent of pure worship. Christ dealt with the Pharisees in his days on earth who were so concerned over the religious practices they couldn't see the one they were to worship was standing in their presence. In Matthew 12 we find Jesus and his disciples walking through a field of grain on the sabbath and they were hungry, some pulled the grain heads off and ate. The Pharisees protested saying they were breaking the law by working on the sabbath. In verse 6 Jesus says "I tell you, there is one here who is greater than the temple." The focus was so much on the letter of the law the whole point was missed. The sabbath was a day to rest and worship God. The Pharisees were so caught up in the means of worship they couldn't even see God in front of them. Jesus showed mercy knowing they were hungry and they ate. In our society if something is out of ordinary we immediately resent it, especially in church. Sunday service should never be dull and boring. The bible tells us He is there to meet our needs, our needs are all different, so we can assume each week as our needs changes so does the way the Lord may possibly move.

We had an amazing service last week, 4 people gave their heart to God and the pastor never had to say one word. The Spirit drew as we entered into worship. I am thankful for Pastors who are sensitive to the Holy Spirit and know when to get out of the way and let God be God. He can accomplish more in 30 seconds then all of our vain efforts can do in order to keep the service going because we have" always done it this way." I urge you this week if God wants to do something different in your church, let him out of the box. Be willing to embrace change while still maintaining Godly principals. Come to service tomorrow with open minds and hearts, you never know what He might have in store for you!

Trust

2011-02-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

I recently made a pretty big decision in my life that affected not only me but my family also. It was a difficult decision that I did not take lightly so I committed it to the Lord in prayer. After the decision was made I knew was the right one and his will but I found myself a week later doubting. My mind was filled with "what ifs" and what might have been. It was to the point it was consuming my thoughts and actions. I had to ask the Lord to help me bring my thoughts into captivity. I sought his face again and found my answers in his word. I was convicted when he ask me if I really trusted him when it came to the plan for my life. Proverbs 3:5 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will for your life and he will direct your path". God has given us the ability to reason but we must not look to our own ideas to the exclusion of all others and miss his voice. This passage also tells is we must seek his will in all we do, every aspect of our lives, not just the difficult decisions. Doing this the Bible says he WILL direct out paths. Knowing this we have no room for uncertainty or doubt. In Psalms 32:8 we find " The Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise and watch over you". How comforting to know our paths has been established by the creator of all things long before we were even born. Knowing this we can life to the fullest trusting God with each step we take in this beautiful journey we call life. Just take hold of the masters hand as you walk.

Leadership

2011-02-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

A leaders is defined as a person who influences a group of people toward the achievement of a goal or one who is command. We all have leaders in our lives whether they be in the home, work, or our spiritual lives. Everyone has opportunities to be leaders and influence others in the world as we go about our daily walk with Christ. There will always be good and bad leaders. If you have aspirations of leadership we have a perfect model in Christ Jesus. Listen to this from Philippians 2:5-8 "Your attitude should be the same that Jesus Christ had. Though he was God, he did not demand or cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing, he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminals death on a cross." Christ voluntarily assumed a human body and nature, limiting his deity. Next we look to the book of Matthew 20:25-28 "But Jesus called them together and said, You know that in this world kings and tyrants, and officials lord it over people beneath them. But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be a servant, and whoever wants to be first must become your slave. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." True leaders have a servants heart, they appreciate the worth of others and are never above a job that needs to be done. As leaders we must remember authority is given as useful service to God. Adopting servant leadership only leads to success. Respect from others is earned through this practice and never demanded. If you are in a position of leadership or have aspirations of becoming one look to Gods word for your guide. Christ will be your best mentor and coach.

Hypocrite

2011-02-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

Have you ever asked someone to join you at church for worship and get the response I do not go to church because all those people are hypocrites. The word hypocrite is thrown around liberally and I often wonder if people even know what the word means. There is a vast difference in a hypocrite than a Christian who has merely stumbled or let you down. A hypocrite is a person who puts on religious behavior in order to gain attention, approval, or admiration from others. Christ describes hypocrisy in Matthew 15:8-9 "These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commandments with their own man mad teachings." We look to the book of Luke chapter 6 verses 43-35 to teach us the difference " A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by the kind of fruit it produces. Figs never grow on thorn bushes or grapes on bramble bushes. A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and a evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines what you say. Our actions revel our true motivations. A good impression will not last if the motives of the heart are truly deceptive.

Before we are quick to label someone a hypocrite we need to look at the bigger picture of the life that is lived outside the four walls of the church. Labeling all Christians as hypocrites tells me the person is closed minded and often times uses it as an excuse so they don't have to look at them ownselves. God is the ultimate judge and if the heart is wrong all they are pretending to do is in vein. Labeling someone a hypocrite because they do not meet your expectations is not fair to those who are sincere in their walk with God. By engaging in this type of behaviour we turn the tables and then who becomes the hypocrite? Be ready with a response if this situation happens to you again. Have a blessed week!

Government

2011-01-31T06:02:00.000-08:00

Each week my job requires me to travel, while on the road I get the opportunity to hear multiple radio and television broadcasts over a broad area. I am not trying to open a political debate and am not taking sides with the right or left but I am amazed at the frivolous debate and absolute disrespect for the government and namely the Office of the Presidency. I believe some of this behavior is contrary to the word of God and what he would have us to do. I Timothy 2:1-2 says "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity." Paul was urging is to pray for our leaders, prayer is powerful. James 5:16 tell us the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. The book of Titus 3:1 says " Remind your people to submit to the government and it's officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. Christians are not above the law, we have a duty to obey civil authority unless that authority directly contradicts a commandment of God. We can debate and argue until we haven't a breath left in our body but at the end of the day what has it accomplished? Probably very little since neither side seems to know what compromise means. I am not saying we cannot have meaningful discussions especially when defending the truth but we all have to admit in this technology age I think our media crosses the line. God has given us the power through prayer to change the world. Do you want better government or Christian leaders? The answers are right in front of us contained in the word of God. You can begin by reading 2 Chronicles 7:14. Only through this will we find healing in our land.

Ambition

2011-01-23T07:09:00.000-08:00

Ambition is defined as the desire for personal achievement that provides motivation and determination necessary to achieve goals in life. Ambition can be a strange thing, often times good but also bad. When that ambition or motivation comes from the wrong reasons we have to be careful of the paths we lead ourselves down. One of the hardest things to do is yield to God's will and design when it comes to our ambition especially when it conflicts. The word of God can put things in perspective and often provides that check we need. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says "This should be your ambition: to live a quite life, minding your business and working with your hands, just as we have commanded you before." Living and working humbly is the truest reflection of Christ. The bible also teaches us in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." As long as God who knows the future provides our agenda our desires will all be fulfilled. If we are honest with ourselves I think we all will know in our heart of hearts if our desires mirror God's. It's a hard thing to lay down "self" sometimes but wasn't that the life of Jesus, ultimately laying down it all for you and I. Just remember as you pursue you ambitions that God holds our hopes and dreams in the palm of His hand and they are precious to him. One day all will come to pass if we trust in him. Like the old song says many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand, but I know who holds the future and I know who holds my hand.

Decision Making

2011-01-16T06:44:00.000-08:00

We all have decisions to make in life, ever have a decision to make and you just don't know where to turn? Worried about the consequences? Weighing the what ifs? You can relate I am sure. Personally for me when I have a major decision to make if I'm not careful I can let it consume me. Taking my time, thoughts, and actions simply because I am doing everything in my power to reason it out and sometimes manipulate circumstances or people to get to the outcome I want. We must be so cautious in doing that, it only leads to my will and not His. Manipulation is sin and only leads to destruction. The word of God gives us direction when it comes to guidance. Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will direct your path." Trust is key here, we must lay aside all worldly reassurances and give our lives to him completely. We also cannot lean to our knowledge or those around us. It is great to seek wisdom and godly counsel from wise friends but again we have to ultimately resign to the will of the Father. If you are facing a major decision in life commit it to God in prayer. He will give you peace and answers through his still small voice. Just remember you have to be still long enough to hear it.

Hope

2011-01-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

I am not sure what it is about this time of year, it has a tendency to bring me down a little which is out of character for me. I think it might be a combination of things. The first is simply being tired from a hectic work schedule and all of the holiday activities. Also January is the month of my grandmothers birthday, she passed away several years ago from lung cancer. I'm sure everyone can relate to having that one person in your life no matter what you were going through one phone call to them and everything would seem right. She was that person for me and I do miss her everyday. Being emotional and getting down is completely natural, we are only human, but it should only last for a season. I find comfort in the Word of the Lord and I want to share with you a few scriptures to rely on if you find yourself missing someone and are struggling with these feelings. 2 Corinthians 5:8 tells us to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Death is simply a prelude to eternal life with God. John 11:25 in the words of Jesus to Martha says "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says "And now brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all those Christians who have died. Wow, what comfort we can find in these words! Praise God we have the blessed hope, we would be men most miserable without it. I encourage you to hold fast to the promises of God, they are the only thing that will stand firm and see you through. Have a blessed week friends!

Resolution's

2011-01-02T07:09:00.000-08:00

As the new year begins we all find ourselves making resolutions. Some of the most common are to loose weight, kick a habit, or go to church more. If you are one of those who has made yours to find a church or work on your relationship with God you might find yourself asking what should I be looking for in a church. The ultimate test and answer to the question is this; Does everything that is taught point back to the sacrifice of the Cross? The bible clearly teaches there is no other way to salvation and salvation is found in no other name. Acts 4:12 says "There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them." As christians we need to be open minded about things but when it comes to this there is no room for deviation. The blood of Christ was the only redemptive sacrafice that would remove the veil of sin that had separated the creation from the creator. As you begin you search there will always be personal preferences like the size of the church or musical style, but if you find a church where everything points back to Calvary and there is always a salvation message where someone has the opportunity to give their heart and life to the Lord, I would dare to say you have found a church on the right track. Pray and ask the Lord to help you find a good church family. As you begin your walk towards Him you will find He is running towards you.

Christmas Gleam

2010-12-25T17:45:00.000-08:00

When we hear the word Christmas many things come to mind. One of the most precious things about this time of year is the children; the hope, wonder, and amazement that fills their eyes. If you want to see what I mean talk to any 4-6 year old about Christmas and what they did and got this year. Can't you just see that gleam in those eyes and the grateful heart behind everything they received?

Children hold a special place in the heart of Jesus. Mark 10:13-15 says "One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. But when Jesus saw what was happening, he was very displeased with his disciples. He said to them, Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." This passage speaks of security from someone who cares and loves us. Christ taught that we must trust in Him with childlike faith. We do not have to understand everything nor question injustice in the world. It is enough to know God loves us and provides forgiveness for our sin. Our faith must be grounded with a child's simplicity. As you begin this new week ask the Lord to help you with your faith-to simply trust. Childlike faith has the power to change any circumstance. Is that a spark I see still in your eyes?

Fasting

2010-12-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

You rarely hear a lot about fasting anymore. One would have to assume in the society we live in no one wants to be told that in order to gain sometimes you first have to give up something. Fasting is a tool God has given us to focus and get his attention. Fasting and prayer prepares us spiritually by showing our dependence on God. Fasting acknowledges to our God our need for his provision and protection. Jesus taught about fasting in Matthew 6:16-17 "And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your father, who knows what you do in secret. And your father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." Christ is teaching us as we fast to go about our daily routine and not make a show of it. Announcing to the world you are fasting shifts the spotlight to you and not on God.

Fasting can be done in many ways. You should always seek God on what he would have you to do. We must fast what our body can handle, the Lord would never ask someone to do something that would cause harm. Simple things like passing on that soda we have to drink, or one meal or snack. God will always honor what is done with the right intentions. In Mark 9:29 we see some things only come about through fasting and prayer. Are you facing a mountain you can't move? I encourage you to incorporate fasting and prayer into your daily walk. Fasting is simply self discipline. Through prayer and fasting we can overcome any challenge we face. Prayer unlocks faith, we we take action by fasting showing reliance on God.

Reaction to Discipline

2010-12-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

This week I was given some advise about a situation. The advise came from a good friend with a pure heart who's only intent was to teach and protect me. A few years ago I would have reacted much differently when advise or reproach was given to me. My first sign that I might be maturing spiritually was I was able to recognize this persons intent and also appreciate it. Normally an immature person goes on the defensive and the other party may not ever offer you wisdom again because they know you will not accept it.
This applies to our relationship with the Lord also. Hebrews 12: 5-6 says And you have entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said, My child don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and do not be discouraged when he corrects you, For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children.
When we receive divine discipline it out of the love the Father has for his children. We are accepted as his children, his discipline and leading is proof! As we receive his reproach we need to ask what is He trying to teach me. If you want to test your spiritual maturity, the next time your are disciplined, corrected, or simply given advise, see how you react. If you cannot accept it from others around you, how will you ever accept it from the Father?

Impact through Humility

2010-12-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

As Christians I think we often find ourselves comparing our spiritual walk with those who serve with us. We look at those who are blessed with musical talent, gifted teachers, and great evangelists or speakers and wonder if we will ever have the impact they seem to visibly have on the kingdom. We think how can I change the world when I do not posses those visible talents. Regardless of gifts or talents one of the greatest things we should seek from God is humility or a humble heart if you will.

Stop for a moment and think about someone in your life that inspires you or someone that makes you want to be a better person. I would be willing to bet if you had to describe that person in one word you could do it with the word humble. Let's look at Philippians 2:3-4 "Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others, Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and what they are doing." We are being instructed here to live a life with a servants heart as Christ did. Verses 5-8 continue to tell us how our attitude should be. "Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing, he took the humble position as slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross."

Can you imagine the impact we could have upon this world taking the attitude and actions Christ did? You would not need one solitary gift to change the world because the humble life you live, reflecting the love of Christ, would be enough. As you begin this week seek the Lord's guidance in living humbly, stop and put another persons needs before your own this week, remember you posses the power through a humble heart to do anything. We serve the God of the broken, the humble King.
God Bless you this week!

Giving Back

2010-11-26T16:50:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is upon us again, one of the most wondrous and joyful times of the year. It seems once Thanksgiving hits we are on go until we wake up and realize its January 1. The season brings many different things to all of us. Memories flood our soul of those special holidays we shared with loved ones who have gone on now. Memories of special meals, gifts, and time shared with the family. Often times we find ourselves so busy we forget about those around us. This holiday season we want to encourage you to do something to give back this year. Before you get to "wrapped" up stop and ask the Lord what he would have you do for someone. We might just be surprised that person might just be starring us right in the face, sitting next to us on a pew at church or the neighbor we wave to each morning as we leave our homes. Just showing simple kindness and love is the greatest reflection of Christ, the perfect gift and reason for the season.

Self-confidence & Self-planning

2010-11-20T19:04:00.000-08:00

How would you react if the Lord changed the plans that you had for your future and your life? James 4:13-16 says the following; Look here, you people who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and I will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what will happen tomorrow? for you life is like a morning fog-it's here a little while, then it is gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to go, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. This passage speaks of getting caught in the trap of self-confidence and self-planning. This scripture can be very convicting when YOU have everything planned out. The key word is you, the context alone leans to doing it on my own and then when you are successful you get all the glory and leave the Lord out of it. (self-confidence) Imagine not walking in the plans for the future he has laid out for you, imagine all the missed opportunities. Important opportunities like sharing your faith in Jesus Christ with someone and leading them to an alter of repentance. (self-planning) As Christians we need to remember all of our choices have eternal consequences, good or bad. It is good to plan ahead but seek God in your planning and you will never be disappointed.

Comfort Zone

2010-11-14T06:09:00.000-08:00

If you ever take a poll of those who do not attend church services one of the main points people will tell you is they do not feel "good enough" to be there. Some feel their sin is to deep or rampant to be sitting by the "elect" of God. Luke 6:31-32 says this; Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough. Christ was clearly pointing out that He came to those who acknowledge they have sin and are in need of a savior. Those who say they are not "good enough" at least acknowledge they have sin and those are the ones we are commanded to reach when Jesus gave the Great Commission in Matthew 26:16-20. Based on this scripture we are to go into all the world and not sit and let them come to us. We are called to GO and share the simple message of the cross and the redemptive power of the blood that was shed for all sin, after that the Holy Spirit will begin his work and bring them into the fellowship of others who's have been saved by this same great work. The church of today has taken great strides to the get the message of Christ beyond the four walls of the church. It is sometimes hard for us who have spent our whole lives in the pew to accept some of the changes but if we are ever going to reach anyone we will have to become the 21st century church and continue to stretch ourselves. I often wonder how we would react when the drug addict, homosexual, or prostitute comes and sits in "our pew". I can only hope and pray we will show them love- which is all anyone wants-when we are truly children of God the love of Christ will exude from us and people will know something is different about this person and church and will begin to seek this for themselves which always points to the cross. I encourage you this week to ask God am I to comfortable? Has my church become to comfortable? Lord what would you have me to do to get out of my comfort zone and reach someone?

God's Plan, Present and Future

2010-11-07T06:52:00.000-08:00

I think we can all agree we live in a "me" society. Our central focus is on me, what's in it for me, if I do what you want what will I get out of it? If it does not benefit me, I do not want any part of it. We are so busy trying to climb the corporate ladder or accomplish our own dreams and aspirations we forget about the one who holds the ladder. We loose sleep thinking how can I accomplish this or how will this work out. There is nothing wrong with having dreams and aspirations but we have to sometimes ask ourselves is this my plan or God's plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Did you catch that? The Lord has plans for us, it's amazing to know that the most high God has a plan for our life. When we follow God's guidance, you know where God wants you to be in the NOW. We can get so focused on the future we forget what God wants us to accomplish in the place he has put us in the present. If we walk in the path he has for us now the future will surely work out according to His plan. Keep you dreams close to you, tell them to the Lord, ask him is this in line with your will. I encourage you this week to begin to seek God and find out what He wants you to do with the gifts, talents, and the place you are in right now.

Focus

2010-10-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

We are so busy in our society today, from the moment our feet hit the floor in the morning to the moment our head hits the pillow at night our days are consumed. Our attention is constantly focused on on something. Work, civic and church obligations, children's activities, housework, the list can go on and on. It is almost overwhelming, not a moments peace in a 24 hour day. We can become so busy and consumed that we loose sight of everything and anything that is important.

2 Corinthians 11:3 says But I fear somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent. Keeping Christ first in our lives can be very difficult when we have so many distractions that threaten to sidetrack our walk with God. Just as Eve lost her focus by listening to the serpent, we to can loose our focus by letting our life become overcrowded and confused.

So how can we minimize distractions that threaten our devotion to Him? One word, simple STOP.
Take a few moments even if it s 5 minutes and say a prayer, spend some time in the word. Another solution is attend a worship service. This is a sacred time set apart for the creation to worship the creator. Lay aside all the weights and distractions and come into His house. There should be no IPhone's in your place of worship. :) Taking time in worship allow you to reflect and re-focus on all that truly matters, your relationship with Christ. I am not saying you will not face attacks the moment you walk out but you will have that inner peace to deal with all of your obligations. Focusing our attention on God allows him to focus on us. Those distractions that once seemed so important will seem to fade away as your attentions draws to what is really important. As you begin to pursue God and walk towards him you will find He will run to you and flood you with the peace that we all seek.

I encourage you this week to STOP, take some time even if its just a few minutes to focus God. Spend some time listening to that still small voice. We all want God's will and plan for our life to be fulfilled but that's hard to accomplish if we wont stop long enough to listen. Try it this week, spend some time with him, I assure you your week will be better.

Accuser vs Advocate

2010-10-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

Accusations seem so prevalent in our society, it is easy to lay the blame on someone else, no one wants to be accountable for their actions. As Christians we all face accusations, sometimes from ourselves or others. The Bible clearly teaches we have an accuser, Satan who only comes to steal and destroy.

Emotional struggles are now one of the most prevalent issues facing out society. Never before have we seen God's people so dependant or addicted to "coping mechanisms" from Paxil, Zoloft, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Yes their are legitimate medical reasons for some of these legal substances but most of these situations people are faced with can be traced to other things. For some, traumatic experiences as a child or deeply embedded sin that has not been dealt with or sometimes it has been dealt with and washed away by the blood of Jesus but the accuser brings it to the forefront of our minds on a constant basis so much so that the individual can no longer deal with it on their own and begins to reach out for anything that will bring relief.

1 John Chapter 2: 1-2 clearly teaches we have an advocate. The verses reads " My dear children I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do there is an advocate for you before the Father, He is Jesus Christ the one who pleases God completly. He is the sacrifice for our sin. he takes away not only our sin but the sins of the world". So what is an advocate? The dictionary defines it as a person who speaks or writes in support of a person or cause. A person who pleads on behalf of another, an intercessor. This verse alone should bring us comfort, relief, and hope from any accusation the enemy can bring against us. Jesus is pleading for us before the throne of God and He pleases the Father completely. What more could we need? Jesus has already paid the penalty for our sin and accusations on the cross. You cannot be tried for a case that no longer exists. We are declared innocent when we accept Christ's sacrifice.

Are you struggling today? Are you constantly reminded of some mistake you have made in the past? Read the scripture again. The next time the accuser brings something before you remind him of who your advocate is. Go ahead and accuse us Satan we have the best "attorney" one could ever hope for or ever need.

Fitness

2010-10-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

Physical Fitness- There seems to be a great emphasis in our soceity right now on getting in shape. Everywhere you go you see an ad for the latest and greatest fitness craze from P90X to Zumba. While taking care of the body God has given us is what he has commanded us to do we cannot neglect our spiritual health also. We need our spiritual exercise as much as we need physical exercise. 1 Timothy 4:8 says physical exercise has some value but spiritual exercise is much more important, both promise a reward in this life and in the next. God has given us all spiritual gifts that must be exercised also. Just like physical muscles grow weak when we do not condition, train, and tone our spirtitual muscle will do the same. The book of 1 Cornithians outlines the spiritual gifts of God to the church and the importance of each gift operating as a whole, just like the body needs all parts to function, one part is not more important that the other. I encourage you this week to ask God to help you identify your gifts and put them into training serving in the Lord's House. If you are asking yourself where can I begin my training Valliant Assembly of God can provide you opportunities to do both. The Fit Club exercise class meets weekly on Tuesdays at 6:00pm and Worship service begins on Sunday at 10:50 and Wednesday Bible Study at 7:00. So let's get our fitness gear on this week and get out there.